Six Sconces thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Six Sconces

Print
1744 (first published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This print is an etching, which uses the action of acid to create lines on a metal printing plate. This sheet is a printed plate from a pattern book entitled Six Sconces, published by Matthias Lock in 1744. This pattern book consists of a set of six plates of designs for wall-mirrors, some with sconces (brackets for holding candles). It was the first Rococo carver's pattern book to be published in Britain.

Subject Depicted
The print shows a design for a pier glass, which is a tall narrow mirror designed to be attached to the wall between windows. The extreme asymmetry of the design is deceptive, as the print was probably intended to show two designs, each of which could be seen in its entirety by placing a small frame-less mirror down the centre. The eagle at the top and the winged head at the bottom of the mirror are copied from French Rococo prints.

People
Matthias Lock (active from about 1710 to1765) was a furniture designer and carver who worked in the Rococo style. He was also one of a number of designers to publish pattern books. Like this book, they were essentially collections of illustrations, which ensured the rapid spread of the style.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSix Sconces (suite title)
Materials and techniques
Etching
Brief description
Matthias Lock (after), plate 3 from 'Six Sconces', London, 1744.
Physical description
Etching print on paper
Dimensions
  • Paper height: 26.2cm
  • Paper width: 18.7cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 18/01/1999 by LM/PW
Marks and inscriptions
Plate from 'Six Sconces'
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
This design for a mirror by Matthias Lock is from the first Rococo carvers' pattern book published in Britain. Prints like this ensured the rapid spread of the Rococo style. Lock etched the mirror in the brittle, restless manner introduced by the engraver Henry Copland. He copied the eagle and mask from a French source.
Object history
Etched in London by Matthias Lock (born in London, about 1710, died there in 1765)
Summary
Object Type
This print is an etching, which uses the action of acid to create lines on a metal printing plate. This sheet is a printed plate from a pattern book entitled Six Sconces, published by Matthias Lock in 1744. This pattern book consists of a set of six plates of designs for wall-mirrors, some with sconces (brackets for holding candles). It was the first Rococo carver's pattern book to be published in Britain.

Subject Depicted
The print shows a design for a pier glass, which is a tall narrow mirror designed to be attached to the wall between windows. The extreme asymmetry of the design is deceptive, as the print was probably intended to show two designs, each of which could be seen in its entirety by placing a small frame-less mirror down the centre. The eagle at the top and the winged head at the bottom of the mirror are copied from French Rococo prints.

People
Matthias Lock (active from about 1710 to1765) was a furniture designer and carver who worked in the Rococo style. He was also one of a number of designers to publish pattern books. Like this book, they were essentially collections of illustrations, which ensured the rapid spread of the style.
Bibliographic reference
Heckscher, M., "Lock and Copland: A Catalogue of the Engraved Designs," Furniture History 15 (1979)
Collection
Accession number
27811:6

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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